Game apparatus.



N0- 799,848. 1 PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905. J. W. HEISMAN.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 N0- 799,848. PATENTED'SEPT. 19, 1905.

J. W. HEI SMAN.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION rum) JUNE 1,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1905.

Application filed June 1, 1904. Serial No. 210,729.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHNW. HEISMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The invention relates to improvements in game apparatus of that description in which are used a game-board and a counter, the progress of the game being indicated by the movement of the counter upon the gameboard.

It has for its object to provide means whereby the field game of foot-ball can be simulated to a considerable extent in an indoor game.

It consists, primarily, of a game board made to represent the field of play of the outdoor game, a counter adapted to be moved back and forth on the game-board, play-indicating balls to direct the movement of the counter on the game-board and divided into groups, according to the character of the plays which they indicate, and a plurality of receptacles for holding the groups of play-indicating balls separate from each other.

The invention further consists in the novel means hereinafter more specifically described,

' pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a plan view of the game-board. Fig. 2 shows the counter. Fig. 3 shows the Fig. 4: shows one of the receptacles for the play-indicating balls. Fig. 5 shows one of the play-indicating balls.

In Fig. l is shown the game-board constructed as nearly as it is possible to simulate the field of play used in the outdoor game. Briefi y, it is rectangular in outline and is divided by transverse one-yard lines. The latter are numbered from the center of the field toward both ends, the ordinals being placed opposite to the end of every fifth line. The goal-line and the twenty-five-yard lines are designated by suitable inscriptions. On opposite sides of the field the positions of two teams are indicated by the letters RE, RT, RG, &c., respectively, designating the players right end, right tackle, right guard, &c. Extending longitudinally through the field from goal to goal are two lines of holes A, alternately placed at the one-yard lines. Along one of the edges of the field, at the ends of the one-yard lines, are the holes B. In the center of the field, as at X, is a hole between the lines of holes A, and at the ends of the field holes are placed in the center of the goal-lines.

In Fig. 2 is shown a miniature foot-ball K, provided with a peg adapted to fit the holes A of the game-board. This serves as a counter to mark the progress of the game.

In Fig. 3 is shown a measuring device M, provided with two legs or pins adapted to fit the holes B at the edge of the game-board. The legs are of such a distance apart as to straddle five of the intervals between the oneyard lines. The purpose of this device is to mark the initial position of the counter K in a series of plays and to aid in the measurement of the distance which the counter moves from its initial position during such series of plays.

In Fig. 4 is shown areceptacle N, of opaque material and shaped like a bottle. There are seven of these receptacles, although the number may vary, and on each one is an inscription designating a particular class of plays. The one shown in the drawings has the inscription Center plays, and the other six have inscriptions, such as Tackle plays, End runs, Tricks, Punts, Try-atgoal, and Kick-off, respectively. For each of the receptacles N are a number of play-indicating balls L of such size as to pass readily one at a time through the mouth of its particular receptacle, which is suitably shaped for the purpose. Each receptacle and the play-indicating balls that it is adapted to contain are colored alike and are colored differently from any other receptacle and its play-indicating balls. By means of the similarity in color the play-indicating balls can be readily placed in their proper receptacle. For an example, the receptacle and ball shown in the drawings may be colored red. The number of balls for each receptacle depends upon the number of plays used under the particular heading inscribed on the receptacle. The balls are consecutively numbered, and each, according to its number, designates a particular play. For an instance, the ball shown in the drawings is numbered 5, and consequently designates the play with the same number under the heading Center plays.

and the plays of each group are consecutively numbered. For the plays of each group there is an equal number of balls for the receptacle having the heading corresponding to the particular group. To illustrate, under the head of Center plays there are twenty separate plays indicated in the schedule, and in the receptacle with the same heading there are twenty play-indicating balls numbered from 5 1 to 20 being placed in the receptacle preparatory to the beginning of the game.

. In playing the game the rules of the field game. are followed as closely as possible. However, additional rules may be formulated to meet the changes in conditions. Preparatory to starting a game the'balls L are placed K is placed with its peg in the hole. at X in the center of the field, and the schedule is placed so as to be readily referred, to. The opposing players, two in number, use any of the well-known meansof chance, such as tossing a coin, to decide which shall begin the game. This having been decided, the player who has possession of the counter to start with draws a ball from the receptacle marked Kick-off. As the material of which the receptacle is composed is opaque, the player cannot make a selection by observing the balls in the receptacle and manipulating the latter so that a particular ball will be'drawn. Having withdrawn the ball, the player notes the number thereon and refers to the-schedule to ascertain the particular play under the head of Kick-off that has the same number as the ball that he has drawn. Then he moves the counter according to the play indicated. The particular play indicated, to'illustrate, may be one in which the opponent is presumed to have caught the ball. from the kick-off and carried it to his twenty-five-yafd line, where he is downed. The counter is then placed with its peg in the hole at the opponents twenty-[ive-yard line. The oppo' nent, who now has possession of the counter, can now make the attempt to advance, the counter by drawing a ball from any one of the five receptacles marked Center plays, Tackle plays, iEnd runs, Tricks, of Punts. Having selected the class of plays that he will try, he draws a ball from the corresponding receptacle. By noting the num-' ber on the ball and referring to the schedule he can ascertain the play which he is to make and moves the counter accordingly. In this way the game is continued very much in the same way as the field game, and it is finished when-allot the play-indicating balls are exhausted or in other suitable way agreed upon bythe players. The player making the highest score will win the game, as a matter of course.

While the. herein-described game is the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, yet it can be departed from to a considerable eX- tent and still be within the scope of the claims. For an instance, the distinguishing-marks of the different receptacles and their respective play-indicating balls instead of being colors may be letters, the balls in the Center-play group may be marked C, those of the Tackle plays group T, and so on. Other changes are obvious.

Having thus'described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a game of the class described, a gameboard, a counter movable on said game-board, play-indicators to direct the movement of the counter on the game-board and divided into a plurality of groups and classified according to the character of the plays which they respectively designate and the members of each group provided with a common mark to distinguish them from the members of the other groups, and a receptacle for each group of play-indicators provided with a mark common to themembers of the particular group which it is to contain. 2. Ina game of the class described, a game board, a counter movable on said game-board,

groups, and a receptacle for each group of play-indicators having a color similar to the color of the members of the group which it is to contain, and each receptacle provided with an inscription to designate the class of plays to which the members of its particular group belong.

' In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature 1n the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. HEISMAN. 

